Tag Archives: Suu Kyi

The trial begins on a dark night in the country of Myanmar. A woman was asleep in her bed when she heard a knocking at the door. She opened it and discovered a man in a bathing suit who was gasping for breath and stumbled in. She gave him shelter and thus committed among the most grievous crimes possible in the state of Myanmar according to the military junta which rules this country. She gave the man a drink of juice and offered him food. There is no question offering food and drink to a stranger in the state of Myanmar is equivalent to seeking to undermine the foundations of the state. After all, it everyone gave food and drink to strangers how would the police know who is loyal to the decree of not offering food and drink to anyone other than members of your family?

Aung San Suu Kyi, who major crime is believing there is such a thing as democracy in her nation, is on trial for committing a crime. Is the crime opening her door at night? Is the crime offering a stranger food and drink? Is the crime speaking to the stranger without asking permission of the government? In reality, her crime has nothing to do with the stranger, but with the love held for her by the people of Burma.

The state was prepared to have 23 testify against her, but since the military junta believes in fairness they will only call nine to testify. Exactly what the 23 know about the case is most probably the main mystery. A man swam across a lake, knocked on a door, the door opened and a woman offered him food and drink and a place to rest his head. Were there twenty three witnesses to these events? Ask the military junta and their response is a loud, “yes.”

Franz Kafka wrote about this trial many, many years ago. It must be admitted he never heard of the nation of Myanmar, but, his fictional trial occurs every day in this nation run by paranoids.

The military clique which rules Myanmar with a tight fist pays scant attention to the world outside its own domain. The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) urged the Burmese government not to proceed with the trial of dissident leader, Aung San Suu Kyi who was arrested because a nut case swam across a lake and got refuge in her house. ASEAN, literally for the first time, issued a protest to Burma over the trial and noted that country’s “honor and credibility” was at stake if it proceeded.

The trial is taking place in the infamous Insein prison and the public and media is barred from hearing what transpires for a “trial.” Ms. Kyi’s lawyer was disbarred so it is doubtful if anything resembling a trial is occurring. It is expected she will be sent to prison for a few years to ensure that her presence does not interfere with the scheduled election next year.

Several days ago, a slightly confused American from the show-me state of Missouri decided to show himself to Burma’s captive leader, Aung Suu Kyi by swimming across a lake that borders her home and presenting himself at her door. Like any normal person in the prison known as Myanmr, she initially asked the stranger to depart, but he claimed to be exhausted and asked permission to rest. But, this is the state of Myanmar which is governed by a clique of paranoid military thugs who spend their lives worrying about who is out to overthrow their regime. After all, one can’t be too careful knowing that a stranger was able to swim across a lake and get to the house of a dissident. Was the swim merely the first step in an amphibious attack on the government?

Ms. Aung Suu Kyi is now under arrest and charged with the crime of aiding strangers who are engaged in some unknown, but definitely dangerous endeavor to create problems. If convicted she might receive a five year sentence. Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of Burma’s sick generals– certainly, they know enough to be fearful of midnight swimmers.

The military thugs who run Myanmar undoubtedly suffer from paranoia and this is most evident in their latest escapade into fear. They arrested Aung San Suu Kyi because some American man swam across a lake near her house, entered the house and remained there for a day or so. She was picked up, and driven to the notorious Insein prison where she will undergo questioning by government officials who wonder what a man who swam across a lake had on him that might threaten the security of the state– a water pistol?

The entire episode is a storm in a teacup reflecting fear and hostility on the part of the government rather than any act on the part of Ms. Suu Kyi beyond helping a man who had just had a long swim.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader who has spent 12 o the last 18 years under house arrest offered to meet with the ruling military junta for a dialogue in oder to break the impasse between the oppressive military leaders and the mass of Burmese people who seek some form of democracy. Kyi said: “In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the Government in order to make this process of dialogue a success.” The statement was read to the world in Singapore by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari who recently completed several days in Burma trying to talk with members of the junta. Burma State Television said General Aung Kyi would meet with Suu Kyi(no relation). A top level diplomat in Yangoon, commented to the press, “there is no doubt in my mind that this regime has no intention of cooperating with Bambari or starting a process of genuine dialogue.”

The process of attempting to bring about change in Myanmar is hampered by failure of China and India to assume a proactive role in fostering dialogue. As the top trading partners of Burma, these two nations have economic power to move the junta toward some acomodation with opposition leaders.